Final answer:
In object-oriented programming, classes and objects are used to encapsulate data and behavior, inherit traits from other classes, and allow for polymorphism which enables objects to be treated as instances of their parent class.
Step-by-step explanation:
Object-oriented programming is categorized by the use of classes and objects. In object-oriented programming, a class is a blueprint for creating objects (a particular data structure), providing initial values for state (member variables or attributes), and implementations of behavior (member functions or methods). The key characteristics of object-oriented programming include encapsulation, inheritance, and polymorphism.
Encapsulation refers to the bundling of data with methods that work on that data, restricting direct access to some of an object’s components, which is why a class defines the types of data and the functions that will operate on that data. Inheritance is a way to form new classes using classes that have already been defined. Polymorphism allows objects to be treated as instances of their parent class rather than their actual class.